Infant holder

ABSTRACT

AN INFANT HOLDER OF A PREFORMED UNITARY PLASTIC BODY BY WHICH AN INFANT CAN BE SUPPORTED EITHER IN A RELATIVELY FIXED SUPINE POSITION OR IN A SUSPENDED UPRIGHT POSITION FOR THE MAKING OF AN X-RAY OR OTHER TREATMENT OR OPERATION, AND WHICH NOT ONLY WILL NOT INTERFER WITH THE X-RAY BUT WILL STAND STERILIZATION.

Sept. 21,1971 :5. w. LUiND INFANT HOLDER Filed may a. 1969 mvsmon DOUGLAS -w. LUND United States Patent 3,606,885 INFANT HOLDER Douglas W. Lund, Sacramento, Calif. (6837 Ridgeway Drive, Pollock Pines, Calif. 95726) Filed May 2, 1969, Ser. No. 821,367 Int. Cl. A61f /37 U.S. Cl. 128134 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An infant holder of a preformed unitary plastic body by which an infant can be supported either in a relatively fixed supine position or in a suspended upright position for the making of an X-ray or other treatment or operation, and which not only will not interfere with the X-ray but will stand sterilization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The invention is in the field of the class of surgical accessories, body restraining shields.

(2) Description of the prior art The prior art is exemplified by applicants Patent No. 3,034,502, issued May 15, 1962, over which the present invention is an improvement.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention is an infant holder or body restraining device for holding an infant during X-ray or other treatment or operation. It is a preformed unitary body of plastic or other sterilization sheet material which will not show X-ray casette holder in an X-ray. By sterilizable is meant that it is capable of withstanding 260 F. at 20 pounds pressure per square inch, or a flash temperature of 273 F. for three minutes, generally considered full exposure for sterilization. The invention is designed for short time autoclave sterilization rendering rapid sequence hospital procedures and saving nurses time and tedium.

The infant holder of the present invention has a central body portion with longitudinal reinforcing ribs between its edges and with right angular flanges or portions at its lateral edges to render such body portion relatively rigid. Rigidity is increased by the upper end of the body portion which extends at right angles rearwardly and downwardly providing a hook by which the holder with the baby carried thereby can be supported on the edge of a bedstead, panel, X-ray casette holder or other object. The body portion is provided with side portions of an appropriate configuration or shape to overlie the arms and legs of an infant. If desired a connection may be provided between the free ends of the arm overlying portions behind the body of the device for retaining such overlying members in fixed relation, thus eliminating the need for buckles or other connections in which germs and foreign matter might be contained.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, one-piece, non-straining plastic infant holder, warm comfortable and protective of the infant, which can be easily sterilized, quickly applied, disengaged, without portions which might cause injury to an infant or attendant, particularly usable for holding an infant in a supine position or suspended upright for X-ray, other treatment of during operative procedures, and for all infant sizes as one which will hold an infant efiiciently and securely.

3,606,885 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation illustrating one application of the invention; 3

FIG. 2 a rear elevation;

FIG. 3 a side elevation;

FIG. 4 a longitudinal section on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The infant holder of the present invention comprises a generally flat central body portion 10 of plastic or other substance which will not interfere with the taking of an X-ray. This body has raised sides 11 on its front which extend reversely and form parallel ribs 12. The body with the raised sides tapers slightly from end to end with the end on which the babys head is adapted to be supported and referred to as the head of the holder slightly wider than the opposite end or foot of the holder. The raised sides 11 center and receive the back of the infant more comfortably.

Intermediate the ends of the body 10 are a pair of arm overlying wings or flaps 13 which extend from the body laterally, upwardly, and then longitudinally with their free end portions twisted slightly so that their outer edges 14 are located closer to the plane of the body 10. The arm overlying wings or flaps 13 have end portions with thickened reinforcements 15 and with central openings 16 near the ends for forceful entry of a tapered plug carried by a transverse strap of material like that of the body 10 with said tapered plug at each end being adapted to be pushed through the openings 16, the strap 16 forming a connection across the ends of the flaps 13. Thus crevices for the collection of dirt and germs are substantially avoided.

The body 10 extends toward the foot of the same beyond the arm overlying flaps 13 tapering and curving forwardly at 17 where it is joined by a relatively flat transverse portion 18 from which extend upwardly, outwardly and reversely a pair of leg overlying flaps 19. The arm and leg overlying flaps 13 and 19 are of sufficient thickness and width adequately to retain the arms and legs of an infant and since the flaps are sufliciently flexible they can be moved forwardly to receive the arms and legs of the infant thereunder. While the longitudinal side edges of the holder are shown reinforced and the tapered foot end is not, the invention contemplates reinforcement wherever desired.

At the head end the body 10 is reversely extended substantially at right angles to its main portion and its rearwardly turned or angular sides of the body are continued along the reversely bent portion to provide a hook 20 with retaining lugs 21. Thus the holder not only receives but protects and spaces the head of the infant at a slightly higher elevation when placed on a generally horizontal surface and also serves as a hanger with the infant retained thereon. Thus the device can be used for supporting the infant in a supine or generally upright position.

If desired a strap 22 may be provided for securing the head of an infant in contact with the body 10. This strap may have slots 23 in which the lugs 20 may be received. Thus adjustment may be made as to size.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding and limiting the movement of an infant during treatment, said device being produced 3 from relatively stifi and sterilizable material and comprismg:

an elongated and centrally disposed body portion tapering in Width from the head to the foot thereof and being provided with raised side portions to provide a central depression within which the body of the infant is received; the foot of said body portion curving upwardly and merging into a centrally located supporting portion disposed on a plane above that of said body portion; an angularly disposed and outwardly directed leg restraining flap on each side of said centrally located supporting portion, said pair of flaps extending in a forward direction and each flap being of arcuate configuration and extending upwardly to a plane substantially above that of said body portion so as to receive the leg of an infant therebeneath; and an arm overlying flap formed on each side of said centrally disposed body portion and united thereto adjacent the foot thereof, said pair of arm overlying portions extending forwardly toward the head of the device and converging slightly toward each other, the base portion of each arm overlying flap being spaced from the adjacent edge of said body portion and in cluding an upwardly and angularly directed portion extending to a plane above that of said body portion and the remainder of each arm overlying flap being outwardly and downwardly inclined to the free extremity thereof to provide room for the insertion and retention therebeneath of an arm of the infant.

2. The structure of claim 1, and means at the remote end of said body from said leg overlying portions for elevating said end when the body is resting upon a generally horizontal supporting surface.

3. The structure of claim 1, and means at the remote end of said body from said leg overlying portions for elevating said end when the body is resting upon a generally horizontal supporting surface, said elevating means being in the form of a hook by which said device may be hung on a support.

4. The structure of claim 1, and means at the remote end of said body from said leg overlying portions for elevating said end when the body is resting upon a generally horizontal supporting surface, said elevating means being in the form of a hook by which said device may be hung on a support, said last-mentioned means including lugs for retaining the device on a support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,495,482 1/1950 Rogatz 128--134X 2,594,883 4/1952 Donnen 128l34 3,034,502 5/1962 Lund 128134 3,358,141 12/1967 Hoifmann et al. 128134X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,211,334 10/1959 France.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner 

